Dough-dividing machine



1,619,104 C. DoRN v Doven DIVIDING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1 1927.

l /fufzzzzaf'ff extruded in a downward 1,619,104 PATENT OFFICE.

CARL DOEN, F HALLE-ON-THE-SAALE, GERMANY.

DOUGH-DIVIDING MACHINE.

Application nled lay 89, 1926, Serial No. 112,697, and iin Germany lay 17, 1924.

l This invention relates to a device for dividing intosections a dou h rod which is irection from a hop r, and the invention consists in the com ination with a vertical spindle fitted with a fl -cutter of a driving gear with which sai spindle is normall 1n loose frictional engagement so that t e-spindle can be arrested by a catch controlled by a lever system which is operated b the extruded dough for releasing the spin le, means being provided for engaging the spindle positively to the driving ear while the cutter passes across and divi es the dough rod.

By this arrangement the spindle will be operated without shocks and the dough rod can be divided into uniform sections of any desired weight.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent views at right angles of the device,

Fig. 3, a sectional view of the gear elements,

Fig. 4, an elevation of the same indisassembled` position,

5, a lan of the gear elements Fig. 6 a si e view and a plan of one o the spindle accessories, and

Fig. 7, a side view and a plan of one o the ar operatingelements. l

e dough is extruded in a downward direction from a hop r Ia., and the extruded dough rod is divid into 'sections by means of a revolving fly-cutter d passing across the discharge orifice ofthe ho r. cutter is secured to a spindle c w ich is held in a-vertcal position in the machine frame b. A bevelled gear wheel e which is loosely arranged on the rotation from a riving Wheel f. The wheel e is released for the reception of a sleeve g which is slidably feathered on the spindle and which has at its lower end a tapered rim whereby.. 4it bears by gravity or splring pressure againsta correspondingl s aped face at the bottom of the wheely recess. The sleeve g acts as a friction clutch and transmits the motion of the wheel to the s indle c so long as the latter is unrestrained y external elements.

The sleeve g can also be positively engaged with the wheel e for which purpose the latter is formed with a ring of ratchet teeth h for en agement with a pawl l connected to the s eeve. The pawl is rockin ly mounted on a flange z' on the sleeve ang is The indle, receives continuousl supported by a spring w which tends to force the active end of the pawl through a slot in the flange into engagement with the ratchet teeth h. `This is prevented in one position of the sleeve and of the spindle by a cui'vedbracket c which is secured to the -a boss m which is rigidly secured to the spindlec. It has a lug a: which is normally held, owing to the action of an adjustable weight lv on the opposite lever arm, a ainst the upper flan e and in the path of a u n connected to t e latter. When the aw l is in engagement with the bracket k e lug 1 1 is normally in' engagement with tlie lug a: so that the s indle is lprevented from moving. The free en of the ever a carries a roller t which is situated under the discharge orifice of the hopper a so as to take the thrust of the extruded dough rod. The distance of the roller t from the -discharge orifice of the hoppercan be varied by an adjustment of the link r which is divided into two portions threaded right and left hand respectively and connected by anv adjusting sleeve u.

A spring y is arranged so as to engage the lug n and prevent retrograde movement l has moved out of engagement with the bracket k, it drops into engagement with lthe toothed rin h, and the spindle will then be positive y rotated while the cutter passes through the d ough rod and se rates olf the extruded dou h section. he latter, on beine detached, is discharged by the roller t w ereu n the lever system is restored to its initial position so that, as the pawl lp under Vthe bracket k and as the4 lug n strikes against the lug w, the spindle will be arrested. When the roller t is depressed by the next dough section, the process will be repeated.

By an adjustment of the weight v on the lever o and by an ap ropriate distancing of the roller t from t e hopper, uniform dough sections of any desired weight can be divided oli' in this manner.

l claim:

l. In a dough dividing machine, the combination with a hopper adapted to extrude a downwardly directed dough rod and with a vertical .s indle having a fiy-cutter for dividing s-ai rod in sections, of a continuously rotated gear wheel mounted loosely on said spindle,I a clutch element on the spindle engaging said gear wheel so as to impart rotation to the spindle when the latter is unrestrained, means for arresting the spindle, means for releasing the spindle by the gravital action of the extruded dough rod, and means for coupling the spindle positively to the gear wheel while the cutter passes across and divides the dough red.

2., A structure as claimed in claim l wherein the means for arresting and releasable weight on the lever tending to hold said arresting means in operative position, and a roller connected to the free end of the other lever, said-roller being situated so as to be acted upon b the extruded rod for turning the levers so as to shift said arresting means out of operative position.

4:. A structure Vas claimed in claim l wherein the means for engaging the spindle positively with the gear wheel consists of a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a rigidly supported bracket arranged so as to (zo-operate with t-he pawl for putting said the weight et arresting mechanism out of operation in one position ot' the spindle.

CARL DOEN. 

